Esmeralda Aharon, M.A.
Esmeralda Aharon, M.A., is a distinguished leader, Air Force veteran, and social justice advocate whose life’s work is rooted in service, faith, and empowerment. She served 26 years in the United States Air Force Chaplain Corps, where she had the privilege of serving God and country while helping individuals from diverse faith backgrounds cultivate spiritual resilience. This extensive military career shaped her compassionate, mission-driven leadership style and continues to inform her commitment to uplifting others through life’s most challenging transitions.
Following her retirement from military service, Esmeralda expanded her impact through storytelling and community empowerment. As a contributing author in the anthology Tenacity: Deconstructing GRIT Collection, she discovered the transformative power of sharing personal narratives. Inspired by this experience, she co-founded Latinas Rising alongside Gabriela Ramirez Arellano to challenge the deeply rooted cultural norm often expressed as “calladita te ves más bonita” (“you look prettier when you’re quiet”). Determined to break this cycle of silence for Latin American women, they launched a powerful movement grounded in voice, visibility, and collective strength. Through this work, they have published Calladitas Rising: Reclaiming Your Power, Strength, and Voice featuring 32 women authors, followed by Amigas Rising: Lifting Others as We Climb, with a third volume, Mujeres Rising: Leading with Heart and Courage, currently in development. Through authorship, mentorship, consulting, and community-building, Esmeralda empowers women to reclaim their voices and rise together.
In her current role at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine within the Office of Ignatian Mission in Medicine, Esmeralda leads social justice-focused initiatives that support faculty, staff, students, and the broader community. Her work centers on fostering belonging, advancing equity, and building meaningful partnerships that address systemic disparities. A bilingual professional and dynamic speaker, she continues to bridge communities through advocacy and engagement. Esmeralda is also pursuing her Ph.D., where her research will explore the “calladita” phenomenon and its generational impact, further advancing her mission to dismantle silence and cultivate empowered, resilient voices.
• Certificate, Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education Course
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate
• Women Veterans Leadership Program
• Southern Illinois University, Carbondale - BS, Workforce Education and Development
• Community College of the Air Force -AS
• Liberty University - MEd
• Hispanic Lifetime Achievement Award
• LATINA Style Distinguished Military Service Award
• 375th Air Mobility Wing, Comptroller/Wing Staff Agencies Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
• HQ, Air Force Chaplain Corps, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Chaplain Assistant of the Year
• The President's Volunteer Service Award
• United Service Organizations of Missouri Armed Forces Salute
• Spirit of the Four Chaplains Award
• National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
• The Hispanic Leaders Group
• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Scott AFB Top 3 Organization
• Air Force Sergeants Association
• VetBiz (supporting veterans with new businesses)
• TEDx St. Louis
• VFW Post 1739 Belleville
• Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis
• Women Veterans Retreat (workshop facilitator)
What do you attribute your success to?
When I was little, I'm an only child, and all my life I have been loving people. I grew up in church, and I used to be the youth leader when I was growing up. I've always known that I was a leader. I knew that no one was going to knight me, no one was going to say you're a leader, but I have felt this sense of leadership from the beginning. In my particular case, I believe that was planted there by God. He's the one that leads me, He's the one that puts things in our hearts and the meditations of our hearts. I believe that the love that He has put in me, the joy that He has put in me, the appreciation for life that He has put in me, I want to share that with others. That's how I feel like I'm not only empowering myself, but the greater community. I believe it's intrinsic motivation, but it's very much coming from God. I had the privilege of serving God and country, and I was able to help people become more spiritually resilient in whatever faith they had. All of these things, I believe, again, it's intrinsic, but it comes from above.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be yourself. Nobody is like you. You were created to be different. You were created to be you. So own it. Own your story. Own who you are. Embrace all of you. Bring yourself fully to universities, to the workforce, anywhere you are, whatever industry you are, be yourself. Empower yourself by using your voice and using your whole identity, whatever that is. If I were to ignore the fact that yes, I was a high school dropout, others who may have gone through that may not know that it is possible to earn your bachelor's degree, it is still possible to earn your master's degree, and it is still possible to actually aspire to get a PhD. When we see it, we can be it. I see an opportunity, and it's an opportunity for me to tell my story, for others to hear about it and to be able to hopefully be inspired by it, and also realize that they too can do hard things. They too can also aspire to do whatever it is that is in their heart, whatever was planted in the heart to be.
Locations
Latinas Rising
Scotts Air Force Base, IL 62225